Audra Anita Bailey

Born on December 2, 1936, in Eastland, Texas, Anita was the daughter of Aubrey Jennings Cornelius and Josephine Oneida Martin Cornelius. She moved to San Marcos with her family in 1949, graduated from San Marcos High School, and attended Southwest Texas State Teachers College, where she majored in business.

On May 17, 1968, she married the love of her life, James Leon Bailey. After living in Austin for several years, they moved to Spicewood in 1970, where they built a home on Leon’s family homestead and raised their three children together. Anita was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Leon Bailey; her son, Michael Alan Bailey; and her parents.

She is survived by her daughters, Judith Ann Bailey (Sheila) and Kristie Leigh Bailey; her grandchildren, Joshua Bradford Jackson (Tyler Krueger), Bailey Jay Jackson (Chloe), Tori Renee Bailey, Ace Eason (Madison), and Jett Eason; and her great-grandchildren, Braxton Eason and Tori’s two daughters, Kaitlynn and Kiera.

Nita devoted much of her life to banking, where she built a reputation for professionalism, kindness, and unwavering dedication. She began her career in the bookkeeping department at First National Bank in San Marcos before joining First Federal Savings and Loan in Austin in 1961. During her fifteen years there, she served in several roles, including teller, assistant branch manager on Burnet Road, and later Teller Supervisor at the downtown Austin home office. After moving to Spicewood, she continued her banking career with Home State Bank in Marble Falls under Ralph Giesecke, working as a secretary and in the bookkeeping department until her retirement in 1991.

Committed to serving her community as well as her family, Nita also served on the Marble Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees during the tenure of Superintendent Charles Hundley.

Family wasn’t simply important to Nita—it was the very center of her world. Her homemade beans, fresh rolls, peanut brittle, and cornbread dressing became treasured family traditions that will be remembered for generations. Feeding the people she loved was one of the many ways she expressed her deep and abiding love.

In her younger years, Nita was a swimmer at Aquarena Springs, an experience she fondly remembered throughout her life. She and Leon also shared a passion for square dancing beginning in the 1960s. Together they became active members of the Roadrunners Square Dance Club in the Marble Falls and Kingsland area and served on the Austin Square and Round Dance Council. Leon’s enthusiasm eventually led him to become a caller, teaching lessons in Johnson City. Their children grew up surrounded by the square dance community—Judy and Mike often stepped in to dance when an extra couple was needed, while Kristie could usually be found fast asleep beneath a pile of coats until it was time to head home.

Some of Nita’s happiest moments were the simple ones she shared with her daughter Kristie. Whether shopping together, enjoying lunch, or treating themselves to pedicures, those ordinary afternoons became extraordinary memories. In the end, it wasn’t the grand occasions that mattered most—it was simply being together, and those memories will forever remain among Kristie’s greatest treasures.

Among Nita’s greatest blessings was her lifelong friendship with Sue Deavours. Though they first knew one another as colleagues, their relationship quickly grew into something far deeper than work. Through every season of life, they remained steadfast friends—always there for one another with love, encouragement, and unwavering loyalty. Even in Nita’s final months, Sue’s devotion never wavered, making a special visit in March, a gesture of friendship and love that meant more than words could ever express.

She also treasured the lifelong friendships she shared with Toni, Renee, and Betty, affectionately known as the “Golden Girls.” Their friendship brought decades of laughter, encouragement, and countless cherished memories. Just don’t ask them to sit anywhere but their table at Olive Garden.

More than any accomplishment or title, Nita will be remembered for her servant’s heart. She had a quiet way of making sure everyone else was cared for before thinking of herself. Her kindness, generosity, gentle spirit, and unconditional love touched countless lives and left an enduring legacy in her family and everyone fortunate enough to know her.

In her later years, Mimi faced life’s challenges with remarkable grace and resilience. Our family will always be grateful that Tyler worked from home, allowing him to be a constant source of comfort, companionship, and stability. His steady presence became an anchor for Mimi and for all of us as we navigated those years together.

Tyler wasn’t just a grandson-in-law to Mimi—he was one of her favorite people. She loved him deeply and welcomed him as one of her own from the very beginning. Their bond was built on unwavering love, laughter, and countless ordinary moments that became extraordinary simply because they shared them together. The gift of his time, patience, and devotion during her final years will forever remain one of our family’s greatest blessings.

Her family finds comfort in knowing she is now reunited with Leon, Mike, and those who went before her. Though her chair at the table is now empty, the love she poured into her family will live on in every shared meal, every holiday tradition, every story retold, and every life she helped shape.

She will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always loved.